Open Brain Coral Extra Swollen?

[ssick92]

Hey everyone,

So for the last couple weeks my open brain coral has been going downhill. For a few days he wouldn't expand out of his skeleton. Now, he looks extra swollen, but it's his mouths that are swollen up, not the outside ring of brain (not sure how else to describe it). Is he about to die or is he just going through phases?

For the record, I have never been able to get him to eat, so that is probably a huge part of it. I have tried to turn the pumps off and place some food on him right after lights go out, but no luck. His tentacles never come out to eat.

Well, I guess pictures help. I hope it is easy enough to tell the difference between them all...

1. The first picture is the healthy brain coral
2. Second is brain coral when it wouldn't expand or eat
3. Third is how it looks now, super swollen.

1.

2.

3.

 

[chrissreef]

Looks normal and happy to me. My brains (and scoly's) go through cycles... esp for the first few weeks/months in a tank while they adapt the the lighting, current etc. etc.

 

[ssick92]

Looks normal and happy to me. My brains (and scoly's) go through cycles... esp for the first few weeks/months in a tank while they adapt the the lighting, current etc. etc.

Is it a problem that he never eats anything I give him? Or can he just get everything he needs from the water column?

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[rgauvin]

Is it a problem that he never eats anything I give him? Or can he just get everything he needs from the water column?

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I do not target feed my open brain, but it swells up differently when I scrape the glass, or put reef roids into the water. I am sure it is just filter feeding then.

 

[uxdesigner]

I agree that most brains go through cycles. I did notice my brain getting extra swollen (more water) in lower light than in higher light. Almost as if were expanding to reach more light. Your pics show it in the same spot, possibly something up above or lighting change?

 

[ssick92]

I agree that most brains go through cycles. I did notice my brain getting extra swollen (more water) in lower light than in higher light. Almost as if were expanding to reach more light. Your pics show it in the same spot, possibly something up above or lighting change?

I've never moved it more than an inch or so. It looks back to normal again and color is brightening up.

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[greech]

My scolys, trachys and wellsos definitely go through cycles of being retracted and uber expanded. Coral looks good to me.

 

[GPB]

Looks great. Nice Piece.

 

[Dapg8gt]

Looks good to me also. If that's a Goni next to it it could be some chemical warfare goin on. I know my red Goni has some juice when it comes to touching others next to it. Usually whatever is next to it looses and shrivels in defeat..

I have a Rainbow brain that wouldn't eat for a year plus.was doing great but would never eat anything nor would i ever see sweepers Even started a thread on it . From all my research and info from that thread they get most food from target feeding the sweepers and a small percent of the food come from light. Mine actually started doing a lot better when I moved it to a lower flow area and started carbon dosing to bring my nitrates down from 15 to 0. It has been doin a lot better and sends sweepers anytime a fish farts LOL.

 

[ssick92]

Looks good to me also. If that's a Goni next to it it could be some chemical warfare goin on. I know my red Goni has some juice when it comes to touching others next to it. Usually whatever is next to it looses and shrivels in defeat..

I have a Rainbow brain that wouldn't eat for a year plus.was doing great but would never eat anything nor would i ever see sweepers Even started a thread on it . From all my research and info from that thread they get most food from target feeding the sweepers and a small percent of the food come from light. Mine actually started doing a lot better when I moved it to a lower flow area and started carbon dosing to bring my nitrates down from 15 to 0. It has been doin a lot better and sends sweepers anytime a fish farts LOL.

Its actually an Alveopora next to it, but pretty much the same thing. I was wondering about whether or not they would harm each other. Maybe I'll try moving the brain to the other side of the tank in a low flow zone because I have not once seen the sweepers on this guy, maybe its time for an adjustment.

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